Explosive shell



E. S. WARD- EXPLOSIVE SHELL- APPLICATION FILED 020.3. 1911.

Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ill

E. S. WARD.

EXPLOSIVE SHELL.

APPLICATION men nsc.3. 1911.

dno'nmz up Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 lm/ mesa EDWARD S. WARD, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

ExPLosIvE SHELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 3, 1917. Serial No. 205,164.

To all whom it may concern:

1 3e it known that I, EDWARD S. WARD, a c1t1zen of the' United States,residing at SanJose, in the county of Santa Clara and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Explosive Shell, of which thefollow- 7 ing is a specification.

The subject of this invention is an ex- 7 plosive shell and the objectsof the invention are, first, to provide a shell which will cut wire andlike obstructions with which it comes in contact, second, to provide ashell which may be exploded to scatter smaller explosive shells orbombs, and liquid fire, third, to provide a shell which will produce twoseparate and distinct main explosions, fourth, to provide means forfiring the shell by fuse or fulminating cap, fifth, to provide means forconverting the shell to a signaling or illuminating shell, sixth, toprovide a simple, durable, and eflicient explosive shell. j

ith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as'thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a View in elevation of the device as thesame appears when not in use;

-Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the shell with the safetycap removed;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4.-4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is afragmentary v1ew 1n longitudinal section showing the shell equipped asan illuminating shell;

Fig. 6 is a sectional the illuminant;

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a modified form of tip for the shell;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectlon of the View of the holderfor same shownapplied to the tip of a shell, a fragment of which shell is shown.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference In carrying out theinvention, a cartridge 10 is provided in the closed or headed end ofwhich may be secured a cap 11 for the purpose of igniting the powder 12with which the cartridge is packed.

Within the cartridge 10, and upon the powder 12 is forced a wad orpartition 13 which is formed with a centrally disposedflash hole coveredwith paper 14 or other easily ruptured material. Upon the wad 13 isplaced a layer of powder 15 and the cylinder 16 is then forced into thecartridge with its fuse 17 embedded in the powder 15. The fuse 17projects through a suitable central aperture formed in the head ofcylinder 16 and communicates with the powder 18 with which the cylinderis packed.

Embedded in the powder 18 within cylinder 16 are vials 19, herein shownas four in number, which contain highly inflammable and explosivechemicals of any preferred composition. When the cylinder 16 is explodedby ignition of the powder 18 these vials are broken and their contentsscattered and ignited by the powder causing liquid fire to beprojected'in all directions.

Also embedded in the powder 18 are a desired number of shells or bombs20, only one being shown herein. These bombs 20 are of any convenientform and consist of the usual shell or casing which contains some highexplosive and which are provided with fuses 21 which are ignited by theexploding powder 18.- The cylinder is threaded onto .the reduced rearend of the forward section of the shell or projectile.

This forward portion 22 of the shell has helical grooves 23 formedthereabout so' that the section resembles a twist drill.

A head 24 closes the rear end of the section 22 to which it is securedby screw bolts 25. The bolts 25 are formed with central longitudinalbores through which project the fuses 26. These apertured bolts may beof any desired number and the fuse of each bolt communicates with alongitudinal duct 27 formed at intervals inthe section 22, and serves toconvey a spark from the powder 18 to the inflammable material in itsduct 27 i The ducts 27 lead to suitable magazines Patented July 15,1919. p

or explosive chambers 28 in which high explosives are confined for thepurpose of rending the section 22 at the proper time.

The section 22- is formed with a central longitudinal bore and iscounter sunkat the rear end to provide a chamber 29. A firing pin or rod30 extends through the central bore and is provided with a head 31 atits forward end. A washer 32 of lead or other soft metal surroundsthepin 30 between the head 31 and the nipple 33 formed at the forward endof the section 22.

The pointed end of the firing pin is lo cated within the chamber 29 andupon the pin within this chamber is secured a collar 34. This collar 34serves as an abutment for one end of a compression spring 35 which islocated within the chamber 29 and surrounds the pin 30 and the other endof which abuts the disk or head 24.

The head 24 has a central boss 36 extending into the chamber 29 andthrough this boss and disk extends a flash hole communicating with thecylinder 16 and its powder 18. A fulminating cap 37 may be placed inposition to fire through the flash hole and ignite the powder 18.

A cufi' 38 may be placed over the end of the shell fitting snugly on thenipple 33 and inclosing the end 31 to protect the device from accidentalexplosion. This cufl' is removed when the shell is to be placed in a gunand fired.

When it is desired to fire the shell by the fuse only, a cap 39 may besecured on the front end of'the device, that is on the nipple 33. Whilethis cap may. be of any approved form it is here shown as cylindrical,

with a tapering or conical end and'provided with longitudinal grooves40.

In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown a device which may be used when the shell isused for illuminating or signaling purposes.

In this instance there is embedded in the powder 18 within shell 16 adart which consists of a cup or container 41 in which is a cork orsuitable buoyant material 42. With in the container may be placed theilluminating substance 43, and, if desired, a slgnaling device such asthe Roman candle 44 may be secured in and project from the 1lluminatingsubstance.

The wick of the Roman candle or the fuse ofthe illuminating substance isembedded in the powder 18 so that such fuse or wick may become ignitedwhen the cylinder is exploded by ignition of the powder therein. 7

Extending from the center of the bottom of the container or cup 41 is atubular stem 45 to the end' of which is secured an enlarged member orweight 46 which may be provided with a spur 47. The tubular stem 45 maybe filled with explosive and the weight 46 may also have a chamber forexplosive as shown,

' the cork 42 and is ignited by which preferably is in communicationwith the tubular stem. This explosive may be ignited by a fuse 48 whichextends through the illuminant or the Roman candle, as the case may be.

In practice the cufi 38 is removed and the shell loaded into a gun inthe usual "way. When the shell is fired, the fuse 17 will be lgnited bythe powder 15' and so be ready to ignite the explosive in the cylinderat the proper time.

The shell in its flight from the gun is given the usual rotary movementabout its longitudinal axis. This movement will cause the sharp edge ofthe grooves 23 to cut wire or the like entanglements with which theshell may come in contact.

When the shell strikes'an object offering resistance, the firing pin isforced rearwardly, (the washer 32 being mashed by the impact) to firethe fuhninating cap andignite the explosive in the cylinder. Should thefiring pin fail to act. the fuse 17 will ignite the explosive.

When the cylinder explodes, the action hereinbefore described takesplace.

When used for illuminating or signaling the fuse may be timed to explodethe cylinder while the shell is in flight.

Explosion of the cylinder releases the Sig.-

naling device which descends point down on account of the weight 46 andis supported in an upright position after striking by the point or spur47 entering the soil. Should this device fall in water it will stillremain in proper position, the cork 42 being sufiicient to floatthedevice while the weight 46 holds it in upright position. 7

After the Roman candle has expended its energy and the illuminant hasburned out, the fuse burns down and sets ofl the explosive in thetubular stem 45 and weight 46 thereby destroying them.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and soughtby Letters Patent is 1. A projectile, including a cylinder, explosive inthe cylinder, a signaling device embedded in the explosive, means forigniting the explosive to rupture the cylinder and discharge thesignaling device and means for destroying the signaling device.

2. A projectile includinga cutting member, explosives in thecuttingmember, a cylinder secured to the cutting member, explosives inthe cylinder, means for igniting the explosive in the cylinder torupture the cylinder, and means, ignited by the explosive in thecylinder, for igniting the explosive in the cutting member to rupturesaid member.

3. A projectile including a cutting member, explosives in the-cuttingmember, a cylinder secured to the cutting member, explosivesin thecylinder, a cartridge embracing the cylinder, explosive in the cartridgeIn testimony that I claim the foregoing as for expelling the projectile,means for ignitmy own, I have hereto aflixed my signature ing theexplosive in the cylinder, to rupture in the presence of two witnesses.

the cylinder, and-means, ignited by the ex- I EDWARD S. WARD. plosive inthe cylinder for igniting the ex- Witnesses:

plosive in the cutting member to rupture said WM. F. Foss,

memiber. J OHN E. HoHAM.

